No X-Cuses!
Addressing the Spiritual, Physical, and Mental/Emotional Components of our Lives
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CHANGING YOUR LIFE “It is in our moments of decision that our destiny is shaped.” –Anthony Robbins New Year’s Eve 2001 was a monumental time in my life. Overall, my life was not heading in the direction in which I wanted. My professional career was stagnant and my weight had ballooned to over 300 pounds. With my family history (my dad died at fifty-two with a massive heart attack and my brother had a heart attack at age forty), I was a heart attack waiting to happen. New Year’s Eve found me lying in bed just staring at the ceiling. I remember asking, “Am I going to lie to myself again or am I going to live this year differently?” That night, I made a promise to myself and to God that I was going to lose weight. Even though I had made the commitment, it took me three more weeks to join the gym. Choosing to live differently, I lost eighty-three pounds. That year, in December, I ran my first marathon. Accomplishing my goals, I had a new standard of living. For the first time, I felt empowered to accomplish almost anything. That decision caused me to eventually live life differently. First and foremost, I decided that I had to change my diet. That was pretty easy to do. When I enter a restaurant, I see what fat people are eating, and I order something else. The statement may seem harsh, but it is a guideline that I have used to keep myself healthy. Secondly, I have to exercise daily. Exercise does two things for me. It provides me a way to stay physically healthy, but it also gives me the time to focus my mind. I have also found that I do not pay the price for exercise. I enjoy the benefits. My life is better because of the decision to live differently that the "average" person. Is this easy? No. I am often tempted to not exercise or to eat unhealthily. Do I always act as a disciplined person? No. It is the routine of examining my decisions and evaluating my life that causes me to make fewer and fewer unhealthy choices. Making one great decision empowers me to make another one. Great choices produce more great choices. ADDRESSING THE SPIRITUAL, PHYSICAL, AND MENTAL/EMOTIONAL: For me, I made the decision on New Year’s Eve, but it took me three more weeks to begin to put it into practice. Are there decisions you have made but never acted upon? What will it take in order for you to follow-up on your decision? What decisions can you make and put into action to change your life spiritually, physically, and mentally/emotionally? Do you really want to change? Are you settling for mediocrity?
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About the Book
Praise for No X-Cuses! “No X-Cuses! takes memorable quotes from our most influential thought leaders and combines them with life experiences to which we can all relate. I have known Mark for over a decade and have been witness to many of the transformations in his life. I am certain that many people will find the power to become the best version of themselves held within the wisdom of its pages.” – Jeff Arnett, Jack Daniel’s Master Distiller "In this wise and practical book, Mark Beecham gives us the way to become more effective, more loving, and more intentional in all areas of our lives. His work covers the virtues and values that scriptures and wisdom traditions have taught since humans began living in community. His work offers personal real-life stories of people who embodied each attitude and belief that we need to improve the world that is inside of us, as well as the world that is around us." -Derek Peterson, Author of the Helping Kids Succeed series
About the Author
Mark Beecham is a proud alumnus of Martin Methodist College where he received his B.A. degree in Biblical Studies. Being a Zimmerman Scholar in Residence recipient, Mark also studied at Hebrew University in Jerusalem, Israel. He is also an alumnus of Asbury Theological Seminary in Wilmore, Kentucky. After serving as a pastor/youth pastor, Mark developed No X-Cuse! Seminars LLC, a motivational and life coaching business. Using his goal setting and follow-through principles, he has completed two marathons and is currently preparing for his first triathlon. He is currently writing his third book, Wisdom from the Rearview Mirror. He has been able to share these principles by speaking nationally and internationally. Wanting to be the best he can be, Mark has been mentored by the best in the business: Les Brown, Ona Brown, and Dr. Harold Sweeting, just to name a few. Some of Mark's clients include leaders from major U.S. corporations. In his spare time, Mark enjoys skiing, playing guitar, and writing. In 2004, he wrote and published "A Cracked Pot," a book about his own struggles to overcome the effects of childhood sexual abuse. He is an avid runner and cyclist and a big University of Tennessee football fan; however, his greatest claim to fame is being a proud uncle to his nephews, Spencer and Chandler.